Scene Music

What do you like to listen to as you're being tortured?

I've been amazed over the years at some of the choices that some Mistresses have made for session music - loud, bangy things that have ridiculous screaming, or silly, obvious "scene" music (NIN and Enigma come to mind here).

I've always been an admirer of instrumental music as well as world music - I find that it's the rhythm, not the melody, that is what can best transport a slave's mood from the everyday to the extraordinary. I just hate songs for sessions. I want an extended soundtrack, not songs that begin and end, sucking the energy out of the room.

Instrumental comes in many forms - it's hardly just about classical music (which can be soothing, but is generally not rhythmic enough for my taste) - there is a lot of heavier, industrial instrumental music as well as some of the more gothic stuff that heightens the senses (without the annoying gothic female vocals - more on that in a bit), preparing a slave for some punishment to be inflicted.

I really like middle eastern and asian music tho - the rhythms are really incredible, and much of it relies on its silences as well as its tones. It is here that I will tolerate the occasional vocal, because I cannot understand the language it is not jarring to my ears.

I have some wonderful CDs that are full of middle eastern music, chinese music, indian drumming, belly dance music (!) that - when playing in proper order - create an incredible ambiance for a session.

I mentioned annoying female vocals for session music - there is one major exception to that rule. Enya. Yes, I know, it's not something that I listen to on a daily basis either. But when used specifcally for this purpose it's really amazing. After spending hours in bondage with mere whisps of music, slowly turning on Book of Days really is the soundtrack to the chrysalis opening and the butterfly emerging. Try it sometime - be conscious about your choice of music when you play - see what a difference it makes, how the rhythm speeding up and slowing down effects what you do. Yet another weapon in your sensory arsenal...

Katja Minx

www.katja-minx.com